Chemicals development and environmental impact

Since the 1950s there have been many well-documented incidents of damage to human health and wildlife associated with the release of chemicals into our environment. A few examples, both old and new, with selective references, serve to illustrate these environmental concerns  

A brief chronology of the more notable historic events is shown in Table 1.1, and includes some of the more notable pieces of legislation covered later in this chapter. 

To gauge both the historical and the emerging concerns regarding risks to human health and wildlife from exposure to chemicals through environmental pathways and to help regulatory decision-making in the future, it is necessary to place in context the global importance of the multinational chemical industry. 

---